
{"id":23803,"date":"2025-05-08T16:02:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T20:02:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/?p=23803"},"modified":"2025-05-09T19:02:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T23:02:25","slug":"new-study-reveals-stark-disparities-in-ultra-processed-food-purchases-among-u-s-households","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/new-study-reveals-stark-disparities-in-ultra-processed-food-purchases-among-u-s-households\/","title":{"rendered":"New study reveals stark disparities in ultra-processed food purchases among U.S. households"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<p>A new study from researchers at the Global Food Research Program at UNC-Chapel Hill and The George Institute for Global Health highlights how deeply ultra-processed foods (UPFs) dominate grocery purchases in the United States and how these patterns vary by race, income, and education level.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using nationally representative data from the NielsenIQ Homescan Consumer Panel, researchers examined more than 33 million packaged food and beverage purchases from 2020 across nearly 60,000 U.S. households. Each purchased item was classified using the Nova food processing system, which identifies foods based on their level of industrial processing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur findings show that almost half of all packaged food purchases and over one-third of beverage purchases were ultra-processed,\u201d said Barry Popkin, PhD, co-author and W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Nutrition at UNC-Chapel Hill\u2019s Gillings School of Global Public Health. \u201cThis has serious implications for public health, given the strong links between UPF consumption and chronic, nutrition-related diseases like obesity, cancer, and heart disease.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exploring-disparties-3-cropped-1024x345.jpg\" alt=\"Exploring disparities UPF article figure 1\" class=\"wp-image-23822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exploring-disparties-3-cropped-1024x345.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exploring-disparties-3-cropped-350x118.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exploring-disparties-3-cropped-768x259.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exploring-disparties-3-cropped-42x14.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exploring-disparties-3-cropped-178x60.jpg 178w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exploring-disparties-3-cropped.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/public-health-nutrition\/article\/exploring-disparities-in-the-proportion-of-ultraprocessed-foods-and-beverages-purchased-in-grocery-stores-by-us-households-in-2020\/845F4FA3CCBAEC37A3CA9124AE0538AD\">Figure 1<\/a>. Proportion of food and beverages purchased by US households by level of processing<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The study found that certain food categories were overwhelmingly ultra-processed: 90% of carbonated soft drinks, 81% of mixed dishes and soups, and 71% of sweets and snacks fell into the UPF category. These three categories made up 36% of total purchases. Meanwhile, minimally processed categories like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oils made up only a small fraction of overall purchases at 12%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Importantly, disparities were observed across socioeconomic groups. Households with lower incomes and lower education levels purchased a higher proportion of UPFs compared to higher-income, higher-education households. Race and ethnicity also played a role, with non-Hispanic White households purchasing a significantly higher proportion of UPFs than Black, Hispanic, or other race\/ethnic groups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUnderstanding these purchasing patterns is crucial for shaping effective food policies,\u201d said Elizabeth Dunford, PhD, lead author of the study and researcher at The George Institute and UNC-Chapel Hill\u2019s Gillings School of Global Public Health. \u201cPolicies that aim to reduce ultra-processed food consumption must take into account how access, marketing, and affordability impact different communities.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Barry_Popkin_square.png\" alt=\"Barry Popkin square thumbnail\" class=\"wp-image-4123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Barry_Popkin_square.png 150w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Barry_Popkin_square-42x42.png 42w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Barry_Popkin_square-60x60.png 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dr. Barry Popkin<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The findings underscore the urgent need for policy interventions that address not just high levels of nutrients like sugar, sodium, or saturated fat in the food supply, but also the level of food processing. Current U.S. dietary guidelines focus on nutrient-dense foods but do not make recommendations based on food processing levels, unlike emerging guidelines in some other countries.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis research reinforces that we need a shift toward promoting less processed food options and reducing the market dominance of ultra-processed products,&#8221; Popkin said. &#8220;Without it, diet-related health disparities are likely to persist or even widen.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study, \u201cExploring disparities in the proportion of ultra-processed foods and beverages purchased in grocery stores by US households in 2020,\u201d is now available in <em>Public Health Nutrition<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#4c9dd48f;color:#4c9dd48f\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#666666\"><em>This study was funded primarily by Bloomberg Philanthropies.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:20%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-small-font-size\" style=\"color:#4b9cd3\"><strong>AUTHORS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/team\/barry-m-popkin-ph-d\/\">Barry M. Popkin<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/team\/donna-miles\/\">Donna R. Miles<\/a><br>Elizabeth K. Dunford<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#4c9dd48f;color:#4c9dd48f\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Read the full study in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/public-health-nutrition\/article\/exploring-disparities-in-the-proportion-of-ultraprocessed-foods-and-beverages-purchased-in-grocery-stores-by-us-households-in-2020\/845F4FA3CCBAEC37A3CA9124AE0538AD\">Public Health Nutrition<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/public-health-nutrition\/article\/exploring-disparities-in-the-proportion-of-ultraprocessed-foods-and-beverages-purchased-in-grocery-stores-by-us-households-in-2020\/845F4FA3CCBAEC37A3CA9124AE0538AD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"180\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/public_health-nutrition.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22252\" style=\"width:100px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/public_health-nutrition.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/public_health-nutrition-42x56.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/public_health-nutrition-45x60.jpg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#4c9dd48f;color:#4c9dd48f\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/resource\/ultra-processed-foods-a-global-threat-to-public-health\/\">ultra-processed foods<\/a> and the Nova classification system in our fact sheet:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/resource\/ultra-processed-foods-a-global-threat-to-public-health\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"85\" height=\"108\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/UPF-fact-sheet-thumbnail.png\" alt=\"Thumbnail image of UPF fact sheet\" class=\"wp-image-16036\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/UPF-fact-sheet-thumbnail.png 85w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/UPF-fact-sheet-thumbnail-42x53.png 42w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/UPF-fact-sheet-thumbnail-47x60.png 47w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 85px) 100vw, 85px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#4c9dd48f;color:#4c9dd48f\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-small-font-size\" style=\"color:#4b9cd3\"><strong>MORE GFRP RESEARCH ON ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"120\" height=\"120\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/UPF-HFSS_thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"UPF and HFSS over two merging, striped circles\" class=\"wp-image-18145\" style=\"width:88px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/UPF-HFSS_thumbnail.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/UPF-HFSS_thumbnail-42x42.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/UPF-HFSS_thumbnail-60x60.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 120px) 100vw, 120px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:14px\"><strong>New study charts policy path to identifying ultra-processed foods and beverages high in nutrients of concern<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/new-study-charts-policy-path-to-identifying-ultra-processed-foods-and-beverages-high-in-nutrients-of-concern\/\">Read more&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-default\" style=\"background-color:#deeaf5;color:#deeaf5\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"120\" height=\"120\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/UPP-basket_thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"illustrated grocery basket filled with processed food products\" class=\"wp-image-17232\" style=\"width:104px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/UPP-basket_thumbnail.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/UPP-basket_thumbnail-42x42.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/UPP-basket_thumbnail-60x60.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 120px) 100vw, 120px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:14px\"><strong>Ultra-processed products make up nearly half of low-income South African adults\u2019 diets<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/ultra-processed-products-make-up-nearly-half-of-low-income-south-african-adults-diets\/\">Read more&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new study from researchers at the Global Food Research Program at UNC-Chapel Hill and The George Institute for Global Health highlights how deeply ultra-processed foods (UPFs) dominate grocery purchases in the United States and how these patterns vary by race, income, and education level.&nbsp; Using nationally representative data from the NielsenIQ Homescan Consumer Panel, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":23825,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53,36,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-system-surveillance","category-ultra-processed-foods","category-united-states"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3.1 - 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purchases in the United States and how these patterns vary by race, income, and education level.&nbsp; Using nationally representative data from the NielsenIQ Homescan Consumer Panel, [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/new-study-reveals-stark-disparities-in-ultra-processed-food-purchases-among-u-s-households\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Global Food Research Program\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-08T20:02:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-09T23:02:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AdobeStock_381225013-scaled.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ama 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